http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/11/25/ont_school031125

Last Updated Tue, 25 Nov 2003 15:32:42
TORONTO - Ontario's education minister is telling school boards in the province to stop selling junk food and soft drinks to elementary students.

"Either there are healthy food choices available… or they should not be offering those at all," Gerard Kennedy told reporters Tuesday.

Documents released Monday show Pepsi-Cola and Coca-Cola have contracts with two Toronto-area school boards worth nearly $10 million.

The York Region and Peel District school boards were ordered to disclose their contracts after a Grade 10 student and his father won access to the documents through Freedom of Information requests.

Kennedy said he doesn't know if selling junk food and pop in school vending machines is common throughout the province, but given the increase in childhood obesity, the practice would set a poor example.

The minister said he's already begun talking to school boards about how to get rid of these contracts and replace junk food with healthier foods. He said the province isn't planning to cover any lost revenue.



Written by CBC News Online staff